The blockbuster, starring Russell
Crowe, Jennifer Connelly and Emma
Watson, cost an estimated $130 million to make and has already
grossed more than $95 million abroad.

Megan Colligan from Paramount Pictures described the success as
a “fantastic result”. “I think the movie really surprises people
and makes them want to talk about it,” she said. “There was a
pretty good balance of age ranges but a little bit of an older
crowd, which we expected.”

Aronofsky’s film has been banned
in several Middle Eastern countries for its depiction of a
religious prophet. A whole chapter in the Koran is devoted to Noah,
who builds an ark to save his family and animals from the great
flood.

In response to criticism, the studio edited Noah’s promotional materials to include a disclaimer making it
clear that the movie is an imaginative adaptation of the Bible
story and not a literal one.

“While artistic license has been taken, we believe that this
film is true to the essence, values and integrity of a story that
is a cornerstone of faith for millions of people worldwide,”
Paramount’s statement read.

Aronofsky has defended Noah, dismissing the controversy as “all about the unknown and
about the fear of people trying to exploit a Bible story”. “It will
all disappear as soon as people start seeing the film,” he told Variety.

Neil Burger's Divergent about a young woman struggling for freedom in a
dystopian world is at number two state-side, while Disney’s Muppets Most Wanted is third.